Stella Maris Monastery, Carmelite monastery on Mount Carmel, Haifa, Israel
Stella Maris Monastery is a Carmelite monastery built from white limestone on the northwestern peak of Mount Carmel in Haifa. The complex displays a three-floor fortress structure with small windows that once served defensive purposes.
The Carmelites settled on Mount Carmel in 1192 after the Third Crusade, initially inhabiting caves in the Wadi Siah valley. Over the centuries, they expanded their settlement into the monastery complex that stands today.
The central hall displays a marble statue of the Madonna with Child, while corner reliefs show important figures from the Carmelite religious tradition. Visitors experience the quiet devotion and the retreat spaces that have served monks for centuries.
The site opens daily from 8:30 to 12:00 and again from 15:00 to 18:00, with free entry. The grounds are fully accessible and easy to navigate for all visitors.
The lower floor holds a burial chamber where monks were originally interred before their remains were moved to a smaller room within the complex. This space remains a quiet witness to the early monastic community on the mountain.
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